The thirteenth century, which opened so auspiciously with
the winning of the Great Charter, is also memorable as the time when England
developed her Parliament [12] into something like its present form. The first
steps in parliamentary government were taken during the reign of John's son,
Henry III.
[12] The word "parliament," from French parler,
"to speak," originally meant a talk or conference. Later, the word
came to be applied to the body of persons assembled for conference.
THE WITENAGEMOT AND THE GREAT COUNCIL
It had long been the custom in England that in all
important matters a ruler ought not to act without the advice and consent of
his leading men. The Anglo-Saxon kings sought the advice and consent of their
Witenagemot, a body of nobles, royal officers, bishops, and abbots. It
approved laws, served as a court of final appeal, elected a new monarch, and at
times deposed him. The Witenagemot did not disappear after the Norman Conquest.
Under the name of the Great Council it continued to meet from time to time for
consultation with the king. This assembly was now to be transformed from a
feudal body into a parliament representing the entire nation.
